Vamp-guard



Feb. 9, 1932. H. HACKER ET AL VAMP GUARD Filed March 20, 1931 HAR QY HACKE R CHARLES WALLENbTEI N INVENTOR 3 flaw DZ L ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY HACKER AND CHARLES WALLENSTEIN, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK VAMP-GUARfi Application filed March 20, 1931. Serial No. 524,020.

5 against the instep, stocking pr otherwise of the wearer.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a removably flexible clasp to be fitted on to the forward vamp edge of a ladys half shoe and to cushion the same against the instep of the foot. Another object is to provide an article, which is easily adaptable to various curvatures and materials of the shoe vamp. A further object of the invention is to provide an article so constructed as to offer segmented parts for independent functioning of the same.

These and other objects Will independently appear hereinafter as the description of the combination and arrangement of parts of the invention proceeds. Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein like refer= ence characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a ladys half shoe with the vamp edge thereof carrying the preferred form of the invention thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the said invention indicating its state of flexibility;

Figure 3 is a front elevationof Figure 2; Figure 4 is a transverse section through line H of Figure 1. x 1

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 is a ladys half shoe carrying thereon vamp edge 2; 3 represents a ladys instep fulcruming a vamp guard inserted into the forward edge of the said vamp edge 2. The vamp guard in 0 its structure comprises a flexible and soft material, such as leather or other material possessing the same qualities and is so fashioned, as shown in Figure 1, that the upper element 5 is offset from the under element 6 by ordinary 3 folding. The forward edge of element 5 and the forward edge of element 6, the latter protrudingslightly beyond the edge of 5, serve as a clasping combination for secure gripping of the vamp guard on to the vamp edge. The 0 rear edge of the vamp guard .7 is concave in curvature preferably to conform to the naturalshape of the instep 3. Note should be taken of the fact that the Vamp guard should have the resiliency requisite for the purpose thereof, since the elements 5 and 6 must be spread apart. as a preliminary act to the insertion of the vamp edge 2. 8 is a notch of any adaptable shape, preferably an inverted V notch. This notch serves to segment the guard for independent clasping of the same against the vamp edge; such segmentation is significant when, for one reason or another, a part of the guard in any one segment loses its grip on the vamp edge. Furthermore, the notch provides added flexibility to the material comprising the guard, so that the rear edge 7 thereof may be made conformable to any normal or abnormal shape of the instep of the wearer.

Figure 4, as before-mentioned, is a transverse section through line 4.4 of Figure 1, showing the farther edge of notch 8, a portion of upper element 5 and a portion of lower element 6, both the elements'fi and 6 being shown in cross-section. Figure 4 brings out the saddle shape of the vamp guard, as it is superimposed upon the forward edge of vamp 2.

The mode of operation or the mode of affixation of the vamp guard is a simple matter. Elements 5 and 6 are merely forced apart and fitted onto the vamp edge 2. Upon such fitting, the said parts 5 and 6 being resilient in quality return back to their normal positions thereupon to snap the vamp. Rear edge 7 by reason of notch 8' flexibly conforms to the concavity of both the vamp edge 2 and of the instep 3 of the wearer of the shoe.

The vamp guard may be manufactured in the most economical way, being composed of either a leather composition material, celluloid or otherwise. In the event of the use of a synthetic material, the undersurface of this may have pasted or affixed thereon felting to eliminate the cutting, pressing or tearing of the instep itself or the stocking covering the same. The felting would be caused also to extend to the rear concave edge 7 of the guard. v

We wish it understood that minor variations in structure and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A guard for the protection of the instep of the foot against 'thevamp edge of the shoe comprising, a non-metallic body member of inherently resilient material folded over on itself to form an upper and lower portion, the upper portion intermediate its length being provided with a notch, the lower portion at the-forward edge extending beyond the forward edge of the upper portion,

the said forward edges being arranged and constructed to meet each other while the edge of the upper and lower portions at the fold are concave in form and axially flexible.

a 2. A guard for the protection of the instep of the foot against the vamp edge of the. shoe comprising, a smooth non-metallic body member folded over on itself to form an upper and lower portion, the folded edge being concave inform and axially flexible, the forward edge of the under portion projecting beyond the forward edge of the upper portion, the upper portion intermediate its limits being provided with a notch and the upper and lower portions at their respective edges being arranged and constructed to meet each other.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 2nd day of March, 1930 A.-D.

HARRY HACKER CHARLES WALLENSTEIN. 

